Forename: Ronald Mackerson
Surname: Woolhouse
Rank: Corporal
Regiment: Australian Infantry
Institution: St Paul’s Practising School
Ronald Mackerson Woolhouse was the son of Thomas and Margaret Woolhouse of 4 Windsor Street, Cheltenham. Born on 15th September 1922, he attended St Paul’s Practising School from August 1917 – September 1922 and later Cheltenham Grammar School via scholarship. He emigrated to Australia and became a railway worker living in Melbourne.
On the outbreak of war Ronald joined the 2/14th Battalion Australian Infantry as a corporal. After being deployed in Syria his unit was sent to New Guinea to block the Japanese advance towards Australia. He was wounded near the town of Gona and died at the military hospital at Port Moresby on 9 December 1942. Ronald was 31 years old and is buried at Port Moresby (Bomana) Cemetery where his headstone reads “Usque Ad Finem” (To the Very End). He left a wife, Muriel, and two children.